|
Welcome to our January 2026 Business Matters newsletter. We hope 2026 is a successful one for you and your business.
We are including an update on business rates in this edition since there are changes to the rates regime from April, and this is also a revaluation year in which the rateable value of premises is reviewed. Our revenues team will be on hand to talk to you if you have questions after receiving your bills.
We're also highlighting some helpful guides on choosing a Managed Service Provider to deliver IT services, and on supply chains, procurement and trade.
If you are an Andover business, please save the date for our next Andover business breakfast which will be held on Wednesday 18 March at Andover College. You can book your place here: Andover Vision Business Breakfast Tickets, Wed, 18 Mar.
We'd like to remind everyone about our free AI for small businesses - introductory webinar. This will be held on 4 February from 10am to 11am. The booking link is here: AI for Small Businesses - Introductory Webinar. This webinar will be followed by a free practical morning workshop on AI at Crosfield Hall in Romsey on Wednesday 11 February. Please book your place here: AI for Small Businesses Romsey Workshop
 Annual rates bills are due to go out around the middle of March. You can sign up to receive bills by email by contacting businessrates@testvalley.gov.uk
Our website (Business Rates | Test Valley Borough Council) will be updated shortly for all the new changes. The information can also be seen now on the government website Business rates: Overview - GOV.UK
We also have a page covering all the business rates reliefs that are available, including small business rates relief Reductions & Reliefs | Test Valley Borough Council
This is a revaluation year – Every three years the Valuation Office (VO) reviews the rateable values (RV) of business premises. This can result in your RV going down, staying the same or increasing. The RV is used to calculate your Business Rate charge. The link below explains the revaluation process and where you can find what your RV will be from 1 April 2026. Find a business rates valuation - GOV.UK
Transitional relief and the new Supporting Small Business Relief are available to cap large increases following the revaluation. These will automatically be awarded by the council.
The Government will end Retail Relief on 31 March and has replaced this with two new retail lower multipliers from 1 April. Details are here Retail, Hospitality or Leisure. The business rates team may be in touch with you before the end of March to clarify what you use your property for.
 Guide to choosing a Managed Service Provider (MSP)
Many SMEs use an MSP to deliver their IT products and services, manage data and provide cyber security. The National Cyber Security Centre has produced a guide to help SMEs to select and work effectively with MSPs. It can be accessed here: Choosing a managed service provider (MSP) - NCSC.GOV.UK
Supply chains, procurement and trade
The Federation of Small Businesses has launched a "Buy, Source, Trade" hub which provides access to free resources and articles. These include a step-by-step guide to winning public sector tenders, risks of overtrading, managing supply chain disruption, product sourcing, how to start exporting, and tariffs. Access the hub here: FSB buy, source, trade hub
The Government runs training events for businesses of all sizes who are exporting or considering exporting. Current events are detailed here along with an email sign up for alerts about new courses and export control news: Export control events - GOV.UK
Small Business Support Service
The Start Your own Business in Test Valley Guide has been updated for 2026. It can be downloaded for free from the Test Valley Small Business Support Service webpage. The free support service is there to help Test Valley businesses. Please contact support@incuhive.co.uk if you'd like to have a call or a meeting.
Business Service monthly tip - Looking for inspiration?
Start by Googling your business as though you were a client. What do they find? What are your competitors doing?
But don't stop there. Look further afield at what similar businesses are doing in other towns—or even other countries. The brilliant marketing campaign working in Manchester might be completely fresh to your local market. The service twist that's standard in Australia could be your unique selling point here.
Action: Spend 30 minutes this week researching businesses like yours from different locations. Note one idea you could adapt and implement this month. The best ideas are often hiding in plain sight - not just on your doorstep!
FSB/HSBC Small Business Growth Awards
FSB and HSBC are inviting SMEs to apply for business awards across eight categories, including Start-up Award, Family Business Award, Expansion and Growth Award and Community Award. You do not need to be a customer of HSBC or member of FSB to apply although you will need to register. Regional and national winners will be invited to celebration dinners, receive promotion, mentoring and networking opportunities, and receive assets to promote the award win. The deadline is 9 February. Details can be found here: The Small Business Growth Awards
 Andover town centre frontage grants
The interest in the Andover Town Centre Frontage grant has been fantastic. This grant has been funded predominantly by the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) provided by the UK Government. That funding pot is limited and will likely be exhausted by projects that have already been discussed with us and are in development. Originally the requirement was for all UKSPF money to be spent by end March 2026, however we now have the flexibility from central Government for existing projects to continue past 31 March if necessary. There is no new UKSPF allocation at the present time, however discussions are underway to see if the scheme can be extended. As always, any new business funding will be publicised via this newsletter.
If you are considering a project, please email pfunds@testvalley.gov.uk to check the funding position before you complete an application.
We are excited by the range of projects being developed; they will make a real difference to the appearance of the town centre over the coming months.
 Private landlords' forum
TVBC hosts a Private Landlords’ Forum to keep landlords informed of key developments in the housing sector, and provide opportunities to meet and exchange best practice. The next meeting will be on Thursday 12 February at The Lights, Andover, SP10 1AH from 5pm to 7pm. There will be a presentation on the Renters' Rights Act, Advice on Lets with Pets, and time for Q&A. Please register here: Private Landlords Forum registration if you'd like to attend.
 The Construction Industry Training Board
The Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) is the Industry Training Board for the construction sector in England, Scotland, and Wales. Employers who are wholly or mainly engaged in construction activities should be registered with CITB, and CITB is empowered to impose a levy on larger employers in the construction industry. How much levy you pay (if any) is based on your total wage bill. There are exemptions and reductions in the levy for small employers. The CITB Levy enables part-funding of many construction courses for employees of CITB-registered employers (whether levy payers or not) via funding streams such as the CITB Employer Network in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, and a range of other grants, including Apprenticeship grants. CITB has recently introduced a number of funding changes which are summarised here: CITB funding changes. Further information can be obtained from the CITB representative for West Hampshire, Jacquee Say jacquee.say@citb.co.uk.
 Fire safety responsibilities
The Government has published documents explaining the legal responsibilities of small business operating from commercial premises. There are specific sections on fire safety risk assessments. The documents can be accessed here: Fire safety for small businesses operating from commercial premises - GOV.UK
 Hampshire and Solent skills survey
The Department for Education funds Local Skills Improvement Plans which help to shape local skills and training provision. To inform the plans, it would be helpful if you could complete a 5-10 minute survey which covers:
- business skills needs
- Experience with training providers
- Employer-education collaboration.
The survey link is here: LSIP Skills Survey. The deadline is 30 January.
Employment Rights Bill factsheets
Government factsheets on the different elements of the Employments Rights Bill can be accessed here: Employment Rights Bill: factsheets - GOV.UK
|
